Holidaymakers have already begun swarming Italian towns, blocking streets with large crowds, leaving locals trapped in their homes and sparking local outcry. Footage has captured chaotic scenes unfolding in the streets of idyllic Positano, Cinque Terre, and Rome, as the holiday season booms.
Crowds Overwhelm Popular Destinations
Videos posted on social media have shown throngs of tourists huddled together as they squeeze down narrow passageways. Sunny walkways in Positano are seen filled with seas of tourists, many stopping abruptly to snap photographs of the sea views and ornate buildings. Shopfronts have also been filmed, crammed with eager sunseekers blocking the entrance to locals.
Earlier this month, nearby resident Antonio Attianese, who lives in Nocera Inferiore, said: 'For the Mayors and administrators of the Amalfi Coast, they like this mess, otherwise they would have already issued orders to civilise this mass tourism. It’s been going on like this for years, and the situation is getting worse every year.'
Cinque Terre and Rome Also Affected
Elsewhere, in Cinque Terre, on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, gaggles of tourists are seen piling onto buses and trains. They stand shoulder-to-shoulder, awaiting entrance to popular viewpoints with large rucksacks on their backs. In Rome, the popular tourist spot has been branded a 'hellscape' on social media, as footage captured lines made up of hundreds of visitors stretching all the way down streets and around the Colosseum. Not an inch is spared, and more holidaymakers are seen filing down into the throng from a set of stairs into the ancient street.
'Eat and Run' Tourism Criticised
One type of tourism which commentators have said is particularly harmful is 'eat and run' tourism - or 'mordi e fuggi' - where day-trippers spend little money and buy cheap souvenirs. Former mayor of Positano Salvatore Gagliano slammed the crowding as 'scenes straight out of the Third World'. Mr Gagliano, who now owns the five-star Grand Hotel Tritone in the nearby village of Praiano, told The Telegraph just weeks ago: 'The roads are narrow. When they are blocked, there is total confusion.' He has called for regulation on cruise ships coming to Positano, saying: 'We can't handle so many people. The beauty of the Amalfi Coast is being ruined.'
Local Economy and Celebrity Appeal
The town has long been a popular hangout for Hollywood stars, including Kylie Jenner, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Reese Witherspoon and Mick Jagger. They are often seen at popular spots such as Hotel Le Sirenuse and the rustic beachside restaurant Da Adolfo. Overtourism is common across Europe, with Venice also seeing problems with huge crowds of visitors. The issue is also particularly contentious in Barcelona, where locals have staged regular protests over the number of holidaymakers descending on the city in the summer months. They claim that an excess of holiday homes and Airbnbs has driven up rents for locals. The local authorities stepped in and slapped extra charges on tourists staying overnight in the city after holidaymakers were attacked with water pistols during a demonstration in 2024.
Broader Impact Across Europe
Dubrovnik in Croatia has also become awash with tourists in the last few years since Game of Thrones was filmed there, sending the cost of accommodation and food soaring. Venice has long been overcrowded and is another favourite of tourists who come to see the glories of Italy, too. The situation highlights a growing tension between tourism revenue and quality of life for residents, prompting calls for sustainable travel policies.
